Disappointment of the year?

[sailor22]

All the minty moutwashey LDI Rye that's being bottled and sold as premium juice by any number of NDP's. Cute label, BS history story, crazy high prices. Some of it could ruin a good glass of gingerale.

[Phil T]

Congrats, Phil! On quitting smoking, not losing your taster. :grin:

Best of luck to you going forward and I'm sure you'll appreciate whiskey even more once your palate recalibrates.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Thanks so much Brian. I've wanted to quit for so long, and finally have...but the bodily adjustment of cleansing, has almost been unbearable.

How has your move worked out?..to me, totally on the outside, it had to be a life changing move, one that I hope worked for you in the best way....

Edited December 17, 2013 by Phil T

[jwacky]

Finally thought of mine: Maker's Mark's proof drop. You know, for supply. Whoops.

Definitely a slap in the face to the "educated" consumer.

[TunnelTiger]

All the minty moutwashey LDI Rye that's being bottled and sold as premium juice by any number of NDP's. Cute label, BS history story, crazy high prices. Some of it could ruin a good glass of gingerale.

+1, agree with this 100%

[bingstein]

Easily Stagg Jr. Considering how excited I was for this I was extremely disappointed. That OC10 and AAA10yr disappeared so they can make bottles like this doubles my disappointment.

[smokinjoe]

I had the same thought. Do you suppose their margins are great with these? Sort of like genreics at the grocery store.

As good a reason as any, I think. Maybe, small minimums to bring in? Heck, maybe they're free. At most stores, shelf space is at a premium, so I'm thinking there has to be something behind it...Nothing more disappointing than walking into a store that I infrequently visit, and notice from afar that the bourbon section is more flush with bottles, only to discover they're primarily these NDP's and crafts...

[Paddy]

As good a reason as any, I think. Maybe, small minimums to bring in? Heck, maybe they're free. At most stores, shelf space is at a premium, so I'm thinking there has to be something behind it...Nothing more disappointing than walking into a store that I infrequently visit, and notice from afar that the bourbon section is more flush with bottles, only to discover they're primarily these NDP's and crafts...

I think the same thing every time I walk into a local liquor barn store (and I frequent them all). Maybe I'm spoiled, but I seem to walk out empty handed more often than not.

[Brisko]

Same here. Or I leave with a sub $20 bottle that either a) I know where it was made, or how old it is, (or both).

[nblair]

Rittenhouse 100 DSP-1. I found it almost unpalatable next to the 354. I didn't let the bottle I got stick around long enough for continued comparison (I gave it to a friend) but the few tries I gave it all provided me the same experience. Lacking the same sweetness and that very special herbaceous grassiness I love. It just doesn't have "dat hip tang", as Dr. John might say.

A pretty big disappointment for me, to be sure.

I popped open my first DSP-1 Rittenhouse the other day and had the same reaction as you. I'm glad I have a couple 354s left. I still like it, maybe when I get used to the DSP-1 it will be fine, but on first taste I was disappointed.

Rittenhouse has hit $27.99 at a couple stores around me (when they have it). They always have Michter's Single Barrel Rye for $34.99. I may pick one up to see how similar it is to 354 Rittenhouse.

[hn4bourbon]

I know that feeling...as they say, "been there, done that". However, I would not linger in the disappointment very long. In the coming months & year(s), you will do a '180' on those thoughts and be very happy you bunkered what you did. If anything, you'll wish you had gotten more. At least that's been my experience....and I can now see my stocks getting lower sooner than expected with things I can no longer replace....or cannot afford to do so.

Hah. thanks for your words of encouragement!

[hn4bourbon]

I totally agree with you regarding the W P (of) S. I just hate to admit that I drank my way through mine. I must have thought that it would eventually grow on me. :frown:

I commend you for drinking through yours! I also kept trying to convince myself it would eventually grow on me but I gave up much sooner than you did:)

[nd2005]

As good a reason as any, I think. Maybe, small minimums to bring in? Heck, maybe they're free. At most stores, shelf space is at a premium, so I'm thinking there has to be something behind it...Nothing more disappointing than walking into a store that I infrequently visit, and notice from afar that the bourbon section is more flush with bottles, only to discover they're primarily these NDP's and crafts...

[squire]

I'd guess it's a few things:

1. Stores wanting premium product. They can't get enough (or any) PVW, BTAC, etc to satisfy. So all of a sudden their distributor has a new, $75 bourbon and they can get multiple cases!

That MGP stuff sure gets around.

[393foureyedfox]

That MGP stuff sure gets around.

indeed............

[weller_tex]

Not new exactly, since OWA has been NAS for a while now...but tried some recent OWA (I did not buy the bottle) and it was not good. Just brown sugar and alcohol..I bet it was barely 4-5 years old. The old label 7/107 from just a few years ago was such incredibly complex bourbon...what a let down.

[weller_tex]

BTW I am fully aware that MM is 5-6 years old but I feel that it is vastly superior to Weller at this age..

[MrAtomic]

Not new exactly, since OWA has been NAS for a while now...but tried some recent OWA (I did not buy the bottle) and it was not good. Just brown sugar and alcohol..I bet it was barely 4-5 years old. The old label 7/107 from just a few years ago was such incredibly complex bourbon...what a let down.

I've got to agree. I was able to sidestep this issue for a while by ordering single barrel OWA from TPS, but since they stopped shipping, I've had to start buying NAS OWA. And as weller_tex says, it's been very thin and alcoholic. And with Weller 12 virtually impossible to find, two of my favorite every day bourbons are now off the list. And to learn that VOB is no longer 6 years old is not making things any better. This hobby is turning into a much more expensive proposition if I want to find solid bourbon. I guess that's my general disappointment of the year: my regular, go-to pours are either disappearing or changing to the point where I no longer like them very much (although in fairness, I haven't yet tasted NAS VOB).

[bingstein]

I have a new leader in the clubhouse: taking the age statement of VOB BIB. Amateur move.

[humchan2k]

For me, this year's biggest disappointment was all about PVW/BTAC and 4R. I didn't try to get any of them (I'm in LA, where it is IMPOSSIBLE now to get stuff, it ain't 2010 anymore,) and found out that most stores had their bottles spoken for or raffled off. I never saw a single bottle of anything apart from PHC PoH (which is overpriced anyway,) on a shelf all season....it's just not worth the hassle to me anymore. I'd love a 4R SmB Ltd, but it came/went in a matter of days out west. I also haven't seen a PVW on a shelf in 2+ years.

Close second - people posting pictures of a "rare" bottle of middle shelf product and offering it for trade on FB...Dude, your NAS Black Maple Hill is NOT valuable, trust me. Stop it.

[weller_tex]

I've got to agree. I was able to sidestep this issue for a while by ordering single barrel OWA from TPS, but since they stopped shipping, I've had to start buying NAS OWA. And as weller_tex says, it's been very thin and alcoholic. And with Weller 12 virtually impossible to find, two of my favorite every day bourbons are now off the list. And to learn that VOB is no longer 6 years old is not making things any better. This hobby is turning into a much more expensive proposition if I want to find solid bourbon. I guess that's my general disappointment of the year: my regular, go-to pours are either disappearing or changing to the point where I no longer like them very much (although in fairness, I haven't yet tasted NAS VOB).

[Tony Santana]

Close second - people posting pictures of a "rare" bottle of middle shelf product and offering it for trade on FB...Dude, your NAS Black Maple Hill is NOT valuable, trust me. Stop it.

[Tony Santana]

All that said, there's still a lot of great bourbon out there.

[tanstaafl2]

Think we can pull a Makers and get enough folks complaining about it to make them reconsider? I already know the answer and this bites, especially the way the left the number 6 on label for point of deception.

[weller_tex]

I think this remains my annual disappointment of the year. The continued deceptive nature of the industry is and remains disgraceful whether it be by the "craft" crowd lying about sourced whiskey or the big boys doing crap like leaving the 6 on the VOB (not that it is the only example as their are many similar labels changes over the years) or the BS put about by MM or WT to try to cover up the recent successful or attempted proof changes as not only necessary but a "good" thing.

And it only seems to be getting worse rather than better. Fortunately for the industry what little oversight there is from TTB doesn't seem to be worth the money they spend on TP to wipe their butts with and states seem to only be interested in creating hinderances to consumer access to insure they get their pound of flesh from sales.

Nothing new about any of of it of course but still annoying just the same.

:hot:

[sutton]

The longer this thread gets the more disappointed I get ...!

My personal trail of tears this year: HH Very Old and Rare 8 y.o, AAA10yr, OGD86, and now .... VOB BiB. RIP.

On the bright side, I'm backing into my own dusty collection ... amazing how the dusties can come to you if you wait for the industry to keep up with the steady output of "new ideas".